I'm leaving the U.S. for a while

Can you blame me lol

Weekly Q&A:

Q: Would you consider releasing a self-guided/workbooky version of the “Find Your Voice” course you mentioned?

A: YES. So a couple weeks ago I asked if subscribers here would be interested in a workshop dedicated to figuring out and honing your voice/beat/purpose/identity as a writer, and the response was quite positive, so thank you for that! I suppose I didn’t properly explain that this “course” would actually be formatted as a self-guided pack of materials, including a video lecture (where I’d candidly explain my own writerly path and answer FAQ), an annotated version of my Wordslut book proposal, a workbook of writing prompts specially centered around voice, and a bible of #realtalk advice containing my holy grail tips & hacks for figuring out exactly what you want to say to the world and how to bring those ideas to life. I think I’m just going to launch the workbook right here on Substack later this year! You’ll know when I do :)

I’m obsessed with this week’s episode of Magical Overthinkers.

It’s about crushes!!! My expert guest is Alegra Kastens, an OCD specialist, which I thought would be such an interesting perspective to bring to crushy topics like limerence, attraction, and romantic anxiety in the digital age. Tune in tomorrow here on Substack to listen to the episode ad-free, or catch it Wednesday wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Sounds Like A Cult is on a mid-season hiatus.

But we’ll be back in September with some EXTREMELY exciting developments. Just getting our culty little duckies in a row until then 👽

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I’m going back to Italy in mid-September and will be gone for six weeks. (Wanna come?)

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I recently heard that a key to “slow productivity” is having entire seasons where you’re less busy to minimize burnout. Now that this big book launch season has come to the close, I’m ready to slow down for a while. During a not-so-busy time for me last spring, I went to Italy and fell head over goddamn heels for the Northern city of Bologna (to the point that I tattooed one of the city’s famous portici on my arm; you can read about it here in my “what really happened in italy” post). So, now that I have a bit of time and flexibility, I decided to go back to Bologna, mostly to relax but also to work on this new novel, some of which takes place there. Additionally, The Age of Magical Overthinking comes out in Italian later this year (massive dream come true), so I might even do a book event in Milan or Rome!

Then, from October 13-19, I’ll be hosting my all-levels write-and-travel-with-me retreat in Southern Italy. Did you know there’s still time (until August 24th) to sign up if any part of you craves some autumnal escapism this year?

I’m starting to share my novel-writing process here with paid subs.

Would love for you to come along for the highs and lows of this debut fiction process. I made a moodboard for my main character—you can check it out here!

Photo by Helenna Santos

A weekly roundup of books, podcasts, TV shows, tchotchkes, and anything else I’m currently “cult following.”

Film: Sing Sing

I have no notes for this pitch-perfect film, based on the true story of a theatre arts program for incarcerated men. From the acting to the score, I simply loved it.

Song: Change of Heart

I don’t know what in the algorithm introduced me to this song, but it is SO gorgeous and has less than 14,000 plays on Spotify??? It’s by an indie folk pop artist named Nan MacMillan, who kind of reminds me of Ingrid Michaelson, whom I adored in high school and college.

Snack: Taralli

I recently discovered you can purchase these delicious little Italian aperitivo snacks in the US, and I’ve been eating them nonstop. They make me so happy. They’re like crunchy breadsticks shaped like belly buttons. A delight!!!

Decor: Depression glass

This is the term for a category of colored glassware that was mass-produced in the US during the Great Depression, and as I’ve been decorating my new house, I’ve been acquiring quite a bit of it, including a set of vintage pink champagne coupes. Very demure???